FORBURY MISHAP

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 4

FORBURY MISHAP

Warning Was Needed

(From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN. The need for some form of warning device in the event of accidents at night meetings was emphasised at Forbury Park on the first night of the Inter-Dominion Championship series on Saturday.

Happy Ending was left lying on the track after an accident! near the six furlongs in the First Pacers' Heat. The clerk of the course attempted to advise the drivers, of the horse lying on the track just past the straight entrance. However. some drivers did not understand the warning and it was extremely fortunate that there was no serious accident. The Sydney reinsman. P. J. Hall, driving the co-leader, Pacing Lawn, had no chance of going outside the fallen horse and he scraped Pacing Lawn through a small gap between Happy Ending’s head and the rails. In Sydney and other Australian cities a siren is sounded whenever an accident occurs. This allows ' drivers plenty of time to keep a lookout and clear a fallen horse. In Sydney, too. the clerk of the course moves about 75 yards beyond the fallen horses and if necessary he moves against the rails making the field race outside him. Visiting Australian officials expressed surprise that no similar warning devices were in use in New Zealand. Such devices they claim could avoid a serious accident.